Yesterday, Senate Republicans announced that they would withhold their support for any Supreme Court nominee put forward by the White House, making it even more important that President Obama select a progressive nominee who can earn broad, popular support nationwide.

Since Justice Scalia's death, more than 118,000 Americans have rallied behind a Democracy for America petition calling for President Obama to choose a progressive justice to replace Scalia on the court.

Statement from Charles Chamberlain, Executive Director of Democracy for America, on the importance of a progressive SCOTUS nominee in light of Republican obstruction:

"Mitch McConnell's announcement yesterday makes it even more important that President Obama select a Supreme Court nominee who can quickly earn the respect, admiration, and support of the American people with their understanding that our Constitution is rooted in progressive values that clearly protect things like abortion rights and sit at odds with rulings like Citizens United.

"It's time to stop pandering to Republicans, right-wing interests, and out-of-touch Democrats who just don't get where Americans and our constitution really are on the big issues that matter today.

"Nominating a so-called 'centrist' to the Supreme Court would be an unmitigated disaster that would sap Democrats of the broad, public support needed to either get Senate Republicans to reverse their obstruction or to rally the grassroots troops we'll need to defeat the GOP in November." -- Charles Chamberlain, Executive Director, Democracy for America

Billionaire activist Tom Steyer also told The Bee earlier this month that his advocacy group, NextGen America, was now considering intervening in some of California’s crowded congressional races if they determine it could help prevent two Republicans from advancing to the general election. Steyer’s group is planning to pour $3.5 million into voter outreach in the state in 2018, targeted at millennial voters. Groups like EMILY’s List and Democracy for America also plan to support their endorsed candidates in several of the seven Republican-held districts.